Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

‘Outside Of The Noise’ Of Health Law Debate, Insurers Are Actually Beginning To Prosper

Although, that healthier business outlook has been achieved at a big cost to consumers.

The New York Times:
Trump’s Threats On Health Law Hide An Upside: Gains Made By Some Insurers
It has not been a market for the faint of heart. Supporters of the Affordable Care Act achieved a major victory this past week when, thanks to cajoling and arm-twisting by state regulators, the last “bare” county in America — in rural Ohio — found an insurer willing to sell health coverage through the law’s marketplace there. So despite earlier indications that insurance companies would stop offering coverage under the law in large parts of the country, insurers have now agreed to sell policies everywhere. (Abelson, 8/26)

In other news —

NPR:
Consultant Offers Steps To Lower Health Insurance Premiums And Boost Enrollment
Congress and the Trump administration could boost insurance coverage by a couple of million people and lower premiums by taking a few actions to stabilize the Affordable Care Act insurance markets, according to a new analysis by the consulting firm Oliver Wyman. The paper, which lays out a simple blueprint for making insurance more affordable for more people while working within the current health law's structure, comes just days before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee begins hearings on ways to stabilize markets in the short term. (Kodjak, 8/25)

The Wall Street Journal:
Pressure Mounts On Senate Republicans As Trump Rachets Up Criticism
Tensions between President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans are rising, as lawmakers are being blamed by the president, House colleagues and many voters for the party’s failure to pass a major legislative initiative. “I’m sick of them,” said Matthew Walters, a 58-year-old construction worker who lives in Shelbyville, Ky., and has been eager for the GOP to repeal the Affordable Care Act as his wife’s insurance premiums jump. “They’ve said for six years if we get a Republican in the White House we’re going to get this repealed. What is the problem? What are the excuses? I’m sick of it. We elected Donald Trump for change.” (Hughes and Peterson, 8/27)

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